Lives of Scripture

Joash (also called Jehoash) survived infancy only because his aunt Jehosheba hid him in the temple when his grandmother Athaliah seized the throne and slaughtered the rest of the royal family (2 Kings 11:1-3). At seven, the priest Jehoiada staged a coordinated coup, crowned Joash king, and had Athaliah put to death (11:4-16). Under Jehoiada's guidance Joash did what was right, organizing priests to collect funds and repair the long-neglected temple (12:1-16; 2 Chronicles 24:1-14). But everything changed after Jehoiada died. Judah's officials persuaded Joash to abandon the temple and worship Asherah poles and idols instead (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). When Jehoiada's own son Zechariah confronted the king with a prophetic rebuke, Joash had him stoned to death in the temple courtyard -- the same courtyard where Zechariah's father had once saved Joash's life -- and Zechariah's dying words were, "May the LORD see and avenge!" (24:20-22). That same year Judah was defeated by a small Aramean raiding force, and Joash was left severely wounded (24:23-25). His own servants conspired against him and killed him in his bed, in reprisal for Zechariah's blood, and he was denied burial with the kings (24:25; 2 Kings 12:20-21). Joash's reign is one of Scripture's starkest studies in how far a life can drift once faithful mentorship is gone.